The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-19
How Soldiers are Secured-Pe atty
for Desertion-''Pull on your
CIothes-Ali of'Em!"

the stairs.
What do you want"
lis this the place where they take
men for the srmy3"
Eyes"
"Well, 1 want to jine."
The corporal looked the young man
over carefully.
How old are your" he asked.
Twenty
"When7"
"Last January"
"What year were you born in?'
This proved puzzler for a moment,
but little arithmetic made it all right.
In 1866"
"Got any wife or children"
mo"
"Well, go along up and see The SER
geant."
The young man wiped the sweat from
his brow. He had had no idea he would
be asked so many questions. When the
the sergeant took him in hand the con-
undrums were renewed with increased
volume:
"What is your namef Where were
YOU born? What is your occupation?
Age? Height? Weight" and half a
dozen other inquiries were made with
rapidity.
$50 you want to go to the army" said
the sergeant, at last.
Eyes -
Were you ever in jail?'
mo"
Come in the other room, then"
The perspiration increased on the
forehead of the young man, as he fol-
lowed the sergeant.
strip off your clothes"
IAN of them?"
Certainly"
Then the surgeon got hold OF him, and
that functionary made as thorough an
examination of the youth as though he
intended TO buy him. He looked him
over with great care, felt of his skin, ex-
plored his scalp, bored into his ears,
looked at his eyes, Investigated his nos
trils, peered down his mouth, stared in
his face, fingered his neck and thumped
his chest. The candidate for glory be-
gan to look tired.
Extend your arms above your mead, "
commanded the surgeon. Now
cough"
The candidate eoughed. He had
lungs like horse.
Take long step forward with your
right foot. Bend your knees. Assume
this position"
The surgeon put his victim through a
dozen evolutions, ending with having
him cock the hammer of rifle to see
whether his thumb was sufficiently
strong. Then he weighed him on the
scales; then he measured his height and
his chest, noted his complexion, color OF
ewes and hair, and wrote down the facts
on blank. After that he resumed his
Questionings. -rT
He asked that young man what was
the nationality of his father and mother;
what sickness he had ever experienced;
whether both his parents we're living,
and if not, why; whether any of his
brothers and sisters were dead, and
what allied them If he was in the habit
OF getting dizzy, having headaches, fut-
tering of the heart, shortness of breath,
cold in the head or rheumatism if he
had ever been troubled with sore eyes
or running ears, or fits; if he drank
liquor and how much; if he often had
the horrors" as well as many other
playful things relating to his past life
and conduct, all of which seemed to
give the surgeon great satisfaction and
| the young man much distress.
Then the surgeon seemed suddenly
stricken with contritioE, and he en-
dorsed on the blank which he had filed
out: knowledge of English, good;
previous service, none; comparative in
telligence, excellent; figure and general
appearance, fne." At the foot of this
he wrote his name, and filled up the
other spaces as they should be. The
sergeant signifed to the young man
| that he had passed his examination
! with nradif and o0uI1 oinp bo aoIiot
ment paper, which he did looked rather
proud IS well as exhausted when he
saw his name appear.
| Hold up your right hand" said the
sergeant, and he proceeded to swear the
recruit in as soldier of the army of the
| United States for a period of five years,
unless he should sooner be discharged
| by proper authority; making him to
| agree to accept such bounty, pay, ra-
tions and clothing a might be estab-
lished by law; bear true faith and allegi
! ance to the United States and serve them
| honestly against all enemies whomso-
ever; and obey the orders of the Presi-
dent of the / nited States and all officers
appointed over him, acc 0rding to the
rules and. articles OF war.
But a short time elapsed before the
recruit appeared dressed in a United
| states forage cap. trousers, blouse, IN
dershirt. blue flannel shirt, drawers.
socks, shoes and suspenders of Uncle
Sans regulation uniform, and was sent
in charge of q corporal to neighboring
boarding house.
Sergeant M. J. McNally, who had as
sisted at these ceremonies. kindly gave
desired information to a Herald re-
porter, who had been aninterested spec
tator. This man." said he, whom ne
have just enlisted, will be sent in few
days to David's Island. New York har-
Dor, where the recruits for the infantry
service are kept three months before be-
ing sent to the ranks of the regular
army. If he had wished to join the
cavalry, and had shown qualifications
for that branch, he would go to the
Hudson Street depot. so-called, No. 1874
Hudson Street, New York City. We do
not send less than six of them from here